Confirmatory study of the usefulness of quantum molecular resonance and microdissectomy for the treatment of lumbar radiculopathy in a prospective cohort at 6 months follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint and while prognosis is usually favorable, some patients experience persistent pain despite conservative treatment and invasive treatment to target the root cause of the pain may be necessary. The aim of this study is to evaluate patient outcomes after treatment of lumbar radiculopathy (LR) with quantum molecular resonance radiofrequency coblation disc decompression and percutaneous microdiscectomy with grasper forceps (QMRG). METHODS: This prospective cohort study was carried out in two Spanish hospitals on 58 patients with LR secondary to a contained hydrated lumbar disc hernia or lumbar disc protrusion of more than 6 months of evolution, which persisted despite conservative treatment with analgesia, rehabilitation, and physiotherapy, and/or epidural block, in the previous 2 years. Patients were treated with QMRG and the outcomes were measured mainly using the Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions, Numeric Rating Scale, Oswestry Disability Index, SF12: Short Form 12 Health Survey, Patient Global Impression of Improvement, Clinical Global Impression of Improvement, and Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale. RESULTS: Patients who received QMRG showed significant improvement in their baseline scores at 6 months post-treatment. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) threshold was met by 26-98% of patients, depending on the outcome measure, for non-sleep-related outcomes, and between 17 and 62% for sleep-related outcome measures. Of the 14 outcome measures studied, at least 50% of the patients met the MCID threshold in 8 of them. CONCLUSION: Treatment of LR with QMRG appears to be effective at 6 months post-intervention.

Quantum Molecular Resonance Radiofrequency Disc Decompression and Percutaneous Microdiscectomy for Lumbar Radiculopathy.

Within the practice of pain management, one of the most commonly encountered events is low back pain. Lumbar radiculopathy (LR) is a pain syndrome caused by the compression or irritation of the nerve roots in the lower back due to lumbar disc herniation, vertebra degeneration, or foramen narrowing. Symptoms of LR include low back pain that propagates toward the legs, numbness, weakness, and loss of reflexes. The aim of this study is to assess the long-term effectiveness of quantum molecular resonance disc decompression and its combination with a percutaneous microdiscectomy using Grasper© forceps (QMRG) in patients with persistent lumbar radiculopathy (LR) in relation to patient physical stress status. The main outcome measures of this prospective observational study were DN4, NRS, ODI, SF12, PGI, CGI, and MOS Sleep Scale. An improvement 12 months post-intervention was observed in patients without physical stress, presenting better overall results. The mean change was over the minimal clinically important difference in 64.3% of outcome measures studied for the whole sample. QMRG appears to be an effective treatment option for LR, but a reduction in physical stress is needed to ensure long-term effectiveness.

Preliminary evaluation of the efficacy of quantum molecular resonance coablative radiofrequency and microdiscectomy.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether there exists a difference in efficacy in the treatment of lumbar radiculopathy with quantum molecular resonance coablative radiofrequency and quantum molecular resonance coablative radiofrequency and percutaneous microdiscectomy with grasper forceps (QMRG). Patients & methods: A total of 28 patients from La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital in Valencia were enrolled in a retrospective cohort. Results: Treatment with QMRG significantly improved non-sleep-related and sleep-related outcome measures. At 6 months post-intervention, treatment with QMRG resulted in significantly better scores in numeric rating scale, Oswestry Disability Index, Short Form 12 Health Survey Physical and Total, Patient Global Impression of Improvement, sleep disturbance and the two sleep problems indexes. Conclusion: Treatment of lumbar radiculopathy with QMRG appears to be more effective at 6 months post-intervention.

La naturaleza biopsicosocial del dolor crónico de suelo pélvico: una revisión narrativa / The biopsychosocial nature of chronic pelvic floor pain: a narrative review

En 2020, la International Association for de Study of Pain reconceptualiza el dolor crónico (DC) como experiencia sensorial y emocional desagradable asociada, o similar, a un daño tisular real o potencial añadiendo mayor complejidad y ciertos matices a las definiciones previas, con la finalidad de que esta modificación conduzca a una mejor evaluación, diagnóstico y tratamiento de las personas que sufren DC. De esta nueva definición debemos resaltar que el dolor no es provocado únicamente por una experiencia nociceptiva (sensorial), sino que también abarca la esfera emocional. En este sentido, el dolor crónico de suelo pélvico (DCSP) representa un desafío para los profesionales sanitarios en cuanto al diagnóstico y manejo terapéutico. Las patologías de suelo pélvico, de compleja etiopatogenia, se han asociado con frecuencia con fenómenos psicopatológicos en la aparición, mantenimiento y exacerbación de los síntomas, además de las repercusiones personales, sociales y familiares que pueden determinar un importante deterioro en la calidad de vida de la persona que lo sufre.Se ha realizado una revisión no sistemática de carácter narrativo en Pubmed, Scholar Google y búsqueda manual desde 2012 hasta 2022. Se analiza la experiencia de dolor de suelo pélvico desde la dimensión psicológica (experiencias adversas en la infancia, abuso y violencia; estrés y ansiedad, catastrofismo y depresión; kinesofobia, autoestima y personalidad; funcionamiento sexual) y la dimensión sociocultural (estigma, sesgos de género, apoyo social, limitaciones laborales y económicas). Se incorporan también aquellas variables emocionales positivas que han sido consideradas como moduladoras de la percepción dolorosa, como la resiliencia, la autoeficacia percibida y la empatía.(AU)

In 2020 the International Association for the Study of Pain reconceptualized chronic pain as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated or similar to actual or potential tissue damage, adding greater complexity and certain nuances to the previous definitions, with the aim that this modification will lead to a better assessment and diagnosis and treatment of people suffering from CD. From this new definition, we must emphasize that pain is not only caused by a nociceptive (sensory) experience, but also encompasses the emotional sphere. In this sense, Chronic Pelvic Floor Pain (hereafter referred to as CPP) represents a challenge for healthcare professionals in terms of diagnosis and therapeutic management. Pelvic floor pathologies, of complex etiopathogenesis, have been frequently associated with psychopathological phenomena in the onset, maintenance and exacerbation of symptoms in addition to the personal, social and family repercussions that can determine a significant deterioration in the quality of life of the sufferer.A non-systematic narrative review has been performed in Pubmed, Scholar Google and manual search from 2012 to 2022. The experience of pelvic floor pain is analyzed from the psychological dimension (adverse childhood experiences, abuse and violence; stress and anxiety, catastrophizing and depression; kinesophobia, self-esteem and personality; sexual functioning) and the sociocultural dimension (stigma, gender bias, social support, labor and economic limitations). Positive emotional variables that have been considered as modulators of pain perception, such as resilience, perceived self-efficacy and empathy, are also incorporated.(AU)

Pain Standards for Accredited Healthcare Organizations (ACDON Project): A Mixed Methods Study.

Up to 50% of cancer patients and up to 90% of those in terminal stages experience pain associated with disease progression, poor quality of life, and social impact on caregivers. This study aimed to establish standards for the accreditation of oncological pain management in healthcare organizations. A mixed methods approach was used. First, a pragmatic literature review was conducted. Second, consensus between professionals and patients was reached using the Nominal Group and Delphi technique in a step that involved anesthesiologists, oncologists, family physicians, nurses, psychologists, patient representatives, and caregivers. Third, eight hospitals participated in a pilot assessment of the level of fulfillment of each standard. A total of 37 standards were extracted. The Nominal Group produced additional standards, of which 60 were included in Questionnaire 0 that was used in the Delphi Technique. Two Delphi voting rounds were performed to reach a high level of consensus, and involved 64 and 62 participants with response rates of 90% and 87%, respectively. Finally, 39 standards for the management of cancer pain were agreed upon. In the self-evaluation, the average range of compliance was between 56.4% and 100%. The consensus standards of the ACDON Project might improve the monitoring of cancer pain management. These standards satisfied the demands of professionals and patients and could be used for the accreditation of approaches in cancer pain management.

Randomized Prospective Study in Patients With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome of the Upper Limb With High-Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation (10-kHz) and Low-Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this prospective randomized study of cases and controls was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with low-frequency spinal cord stimulation (LF-SCS) and 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation (10-kHz SCS) in patients diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS) with upper limb involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients were randomized to receive conventional treatment or SCS with a commercially available low-frequency or 10-kHz system. Patients were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary endpoint was at 12-months post permanent implantation of the SCS devices. Outcome measures assessed included: Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), 12-Item Short-Format Health Survey (SF-12), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Study Sleep Scale medical outcomes (MOS-SS), Douleur Neuropathique 4 questions pain questionnaire (DN4), Patient Global Impression Scale on the impact of treatment improvement (PGI-I), Clinician Global Impression Scale on the impact of improving the patient (CGI-I). RESULTS: Forty-one patients were finally included in the analysis, 19 patients in the conventional treatment group, 12 in the LF-SCS group, and 10 in the 10-kHz SCS group. At the primary endpoint, patients treated with LF-SCS presented improvements in the NRS and DN4 outcomes around 2.4 and 1.5 times above the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds. At the primary endpoint, patients treated with 10-kHz SCS presented improvements in the NRS and DN4 outcomes around 2 and 1.4 times above the MCID thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: Patients experienced considerable improvement after SCS. The results show that LF-SCS has very good results when compared with conventional treatment. The results obtained with 10-kHz SCS are encouraging, with the advantages of the absence of paresthesia making it an alternative in the treatment of CRPS.

Determinantes de género en el abordaje del dolor crónico / Gender determinants in the approach to chronic pain

El siglo XX ha sido testigo de excepción de los grandes avances y hallazgos en la comprensión neurofisiológica y el tratamiento multidisciplicar del dolor crónico. No obstante, el interés por la forma diferente de expresión en la percepción dolorosa entre hombres y mujeres y los determinantes psicológicos y sociales específicos asociados a los roles de género es relativamente reciente. En este artículo se realiza una revisión no sistemática de los determinantes diferenciales psicológicos y sociales siguiendo el modelo de la neuromatriz. Por último, el conocimiento de aquellos sesgos que de forma involuntaria tenemos los profesionales es crucial para abordar las desigualdades evitables en tratamiento y la recuperación de la salud de hombres y mujeres. Finalmente se ofrecen recomendaciones desde el ámbito de la Psicología Clínica

The 20th century has been an exceptional witness to the great advances and findings in the neurophysiological understanding and the multidisciplinary treatment of chronic pain. However, interest in the different form of expression in the painful perception between men and women and the specific psychological and social determinants associated with gender roles are relatively recent. In this article, an unsystematic review of the psychological and social differential determinants is carried out following the Neuromatrix model. Finally, the knowledge of those biases that we professionals have involuntarily is crucial to address the avoidable inequalities in treatment and the recovery of the health of men and women. Finally, recommendations are offered from the field of Clinical Psychology